Knowing it’s a fruitless exercise doesn’t stop me from obsessing over the “what ifs” of life. Witnessing my elderly parents’ journey, even with the tireless support of my sister and brother-in-law, has cast a shadow of concern over my own future. I find myself bracing for elderly years that aren’t yet here, allowing the anxiety of tomorrow to bleed the color out of today. It’s a fog that hides the beauty of the present moment, leaving me reaching for a certainty that doesn’t exist.
We often treat our lives like a book where we are the only authors, frantically trying to write the ending before we’ve even finished the middle. We stare at the blank pages of the days to come and scribble in our deepest fears.
Knowingly, Jesus states, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).
Watching the weight of caregiving unfold in the lives of those we love can make our own “what ifs” feel incredibly loud. It is natural to look at the support systems others have and wonder how we will manage the complexities of healthcare or the quiet of a house without children stepping in. But when we worry about years from now, we are trying to use today’s strength to solve tomorrow’s problems.
Security doesn’t come from a polished plan, it comes from a deep, internal anchor. The goal is to learn to trade our “what ifs” for “I Am.” I Am cares for us in this moment and always will. I Am equips for today’s tasks and stands in our futures, preparing the way. By releasing the need to control the “then,” we finally find the freedom to enjoy the “now.”
~ Leah Burnett
Christ Fellowship